Thursday, July 26, 2012 (Travel to Hitch `N Rail Family Resort, Heffley Lake, BC)

It was about 10:00 by the time we had finished at the sani-dump and were on our way out of Herald Provincial Park...heading south to highway 1 and then west towards Kamloops.  Our destination today was the Hitch ‘n Rail Family Resort on Heffley Lake about 40 kms northeast of Kamloops.

The highway went along Shuswap Lake...

...passed the community of Chase...

At Kamloops, we took highway 5 north for about 20 kms and then turned off on the road that goes to Sun Peaks Ski Resort.  Heffley Lake is  18 kms and quite a climb up Tod Mountain.

It was close to 12:30 when we pulled into the Hitch ‘n Rail Family Resort, a small “resort” that has a few cabins and about 20 campsites.  We were greeted by Dave in the office who gave us a map and suggested we walk in to see if we felt we could get our rig in.  The road takes you down to the lower level, and then loops around to the upper level where our site (U6) is.  There were no RVs in the lower section so we would have plenty of room to be able to swing the rig and make the corners...okay...we should be able to manage.


We walked back to the office and told Dave that we would give it a try...our other option would be to back all of the way in, and we really didn’t want to have to do that.  So Steve got in the truck and I walked ahead of him watching the power lines as he slowly drove in.  We had to drive down this road to the lower level...

Along the lower road that loops around up the other hill...up...

Now, one problem that I hadn’t thought of was the hill back up to the upper level...I was more concerned with the corners and the width of the road.  But Steve had thought of it and thought we would have no problems...or should I say hoped we would have no problems!

Well...we had a problem getting up the hill!  But on the third try...with wheels spinning...he managed to make it...whew!  Way to go Buster...sure wish he had dif-lock, though!

Doesn't look like much of a hill...

Our next challenge was getting the fifth wheel backed into the site.  I didn’t think it would be a problem but the site is angled the wrong way...making it so that you have to get between some bushes and a big boulder and then turn the rig to the right...but after a bit of manoeuvring, Steve managed to get it where he wanted it.  At least the site was level side-to-side so that made it easy.

After getting unhitched and the sliders out, we had a quick bite to eat and then walked back up to the office to register.  At $50/night, it is one of the most expensive campgrounds we have stayed at.  There is water and only 30 amp power hook-ups at each site...no sewer...and the location of the power/water hook-up is very bizarre.  The whole place has definitely seen better days but other than a forestry recreation site down the road, it is the only campground on the lake...so it is what it is.   We decided to stay 3 nights which would give us enough time to visit with Steve’s former boss.  Gunter and Eileen retired from the Vancouver office of Pacific Controls eleven years ago.

Once back at the rig, it was time to get to work...I gave the inside a good vacuuming while Steve set up outside.  He even managed to get a satellite signal.  At one point Steve came in to grab the camera...I guess these rafts are very popular on this lake...

When all of our work was done, Steve called Eileen to tell her we had arrived.  Arrangements were made...Gunter and Eileen would pick us up at  about 12:30 tomorrow.  We’re looking forward to seeing them...it’s been eleven years for Steve...I have met them before but it was over 30 years ago and I really can’t remember them.

After that we decided to take a walk around the campground...this is one of the docks...

There we are tucked away in the far corner.  We have neighbours on the one side...Mike and Lorraine are visiting from Calgary with their daughter, Kristin...their son is in a hockey camp in Kamloops so I guess they spend a lot of time at the arena watching his games.